On Saturday 22 January, Force Commander, Rear-Admiral Juan Rodriguez met Captain Hiroshi Ito, Commander of Japanese 7th deployed counter-piracy surface force (CCD7).
The meeting took place on board the Spanish Flagship CANARIAS, during a port visit in Djibouti.
During the next months, Japanese destroyers will remain in the Indian Ocean with the main aim to escort merchant vessels transiting between Red Sea and Horn of Africa, Thereby contributing to the safety of those mariners transiting the area.
This was a good opportunity for EU NAVFOR to exchange information and maintain mutual understanding and knowledge with one of partners in the fight against piracy.
Coordination between the different actors operating in the Horn of Africa is of paramount importance in order to optimize their action and facilitate information sharing. This is especially importance given the size of the operational area and the coordination of a large number of ships from many different countries.
EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EU NAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EU NAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.